Soaking a LOT?

[KevinK]

My first ball python got mites. Looking back, I swear it was from a batch of aspen or something I bought at the pet store.

I know FOR A FACT that I've gotten them from a bag of Zoo Med Forest Floor Cypress before.

100% guaranteed.

....a great reason to switch to newspaper or (even better) indented kraft paper.

To this day if I use any sort of substrate besides kraft paper I will bake it (sanitize it) in large disposable turkey pans and let it cool down before using...strictly because I know how much of a pain mites are to get rid of.